Again, he can't unless, the umpire believes the throw puts him in the position where he is in front of the plate to receive the throw. From the pics, it looks like this might have been the case. The throw looks like it was just in front of the plate, and the catcher caught it right in the middle of his body. He would have had to position himself awkwardly, and in a spot where he would have been reaching for the ball in order to not be in front of the plate. If he stands any where else, it lessens the chance that he catches the ball and is able to make a clean tag. Very close call, and again, I think the catcher will get the benefit of doubt in most circumstances.

 

Again, where in the rulebook are you getting this? He is very, very clearly blocking the runner's access to the plate. Not a question in the world. AND he is doing so without the ball. Add the two together and it's obstruction. There is not some caveat in the rulebook that allows for what you are saying. If the throw causes him to be in that spot to receive it, he has to vacate it somehow to allow the runner access. And if that lessens his chance of catching the ball, that is simply too bad. Just the way the rule reads.

Just looked at the sequence of pictures. WOW!! Way to close of a call for me to make. Was the ball in his glove no, but it's about 10 feet from it. Thats way to close of a call and definitely easier to call with the pictures than seeing it live. The umpire must have felt the ball was in the glove when the player was stopped.

 

What was the crowds like last night.

 

The ball did not put the catcher in the way of the plate to block like he did.

 

Pictures may make it look close but even 10 ft away the runner was clearly being blocked from the plate before the ball got there.

 

Like I said I was glad Conner scored again so that run didn't make a difference. The ump blew the call as it was very clear Blake was already blocking the plate before the ball got there. Everyone in the stands saw the same thing and again glad that wasn't the deciding factor. CCH has a good gripe, the run should have counted and who knows if they would have scored again that inning, we will never know.

 

The crowd was excellent. Big turn out.

Also if you look at Pandas pics you can clearly see Blake was already blocking the plate before the runner got there and also see the runner sliding and stopped already as Blake is still looking out to the ball as it hasn't even gotten in the frame yet. There are several

Pics taken before Blake even gets the ball

And the runner is already sliding into Blake. Not sure what anyone sees that thinks its a bang bang play because it was anything but bang bang. The runner slid and came to. Complete stop before the ball even got there.

 

Clearly obstruction.

Again, though - great, athletic play by Hart. MLB has instituted the same rule starting this year (must be in possession of ball and not simply in act of receiving an incoming throw). I assume college has same rule and it's consistent across the board now?

 

And again, while it indeed cost CCH a run - and an important run at that - it wasn't the difference in the game and there were some other plays that hurt them as much or worse - error on the rundown, passed ball in the 7th, baserunning mistake (runner tried to go from first to third on ground ball and was nailed for third out. While hard to fault aggressive baserunning like this, I believe it occurred with their cleanup hitter coming up, so a bit risky).

 

Hard to believe that CCH has not won region since 2005. That is a long stretch, especially given the level of talent we've seen come up through that program. Speaks to the overall balance and quality of play in our region.

Also if you look at Pandas pics you can clearly see Blake was already blocking the plate before the runner got there and also see the runner sliding and stopped already as Blake is still looking out to the ball as it hasn't even gotten in the frame yet. There are several

Pics taken before Blake even gets the ball

And the runner is already sliding into Blake. Not sure what anyone sees that thinks its a bang bang play because it was anything but bang bang. The runner slid and came to. Complete stop before the ball even got there.

 

Clearly obstruction.

 

If you look at all the pics you don't clearly see the catcher blocking the plate. As mentioned above, he has to provide access to the plate. You clearly see in several pictures that he is straddling the plate and that he provides access to the plate between his legs.

 

The question is, did he put his leg down before the ball was in his glove and as Panda said, his camera takes 8 pics per second and based on how close the ball was, its way to close for me to complain about the umpire's call. Plus in the picture with the ball about 5 feet away you are unable to see the catcher's back leg.

 

Its always easier being a Monday (Wednesday) morning quarterback than it is to get out there and play, coach, or even umpire the night before. I wasn't there but looking at the pictures that is a way tougher call then everyone is saying and the clear obstruction that is mentioned above is only clear in the eyes above when we have the picture about 2 milliseconds before the catcher has the ball in his glove.

 

I recently have seen a quote from a MLB catcher where the same rule applies, he states that he will continue to push the limit on this rule until he finds an umpire that is going to call it. Even MLB umpires have a tough time calling this. I will agree with rsj4470, the catcher is going to the benefit of the doubt in situations like this.

Another WOW!! Are there pictures from the rest of the game? Dixie/Highlands game? Thanks!!

 

If you look at all the pics you don't clearly see the catcher blocking the plate. As mentioned above, he has to provide access to the plate. You clearly see in several pictures that he is straddling the plate and that he provides access to the plate between his legs.

 

The question is, did he put his leg down before the ball was in his glove and as Panda said, his camera takes 8 pics per second and based on how close the ball was, its way to close for me to complain about the umpire's call. Plus in the picture with the ball about 5 feet away you are unable to see the catcher's back leg.

 

That's not the rule either. The runner has right to the FULL base path unless the fielder has possession of the ball. He cannot be impeded or his path altered in any manner. A catcher allowing some minimal gap between his legs for the runner to slide through is not sufficient and still qualifies as obstruction.

That's not the rule either. The runner has right to the FULL base path unless the fielder has possession of the ball. He cannot be impeded or his path altered in any manner. A catcher allowing some minimal gap between his legs for the runner to slide through is not sufficient.

 

When does this become a minimal gap?

 

 

Just saying.

Edited May 28, 201412 yr by callwhatyousee
Resized photo

If you look at all the pics you don't clearly see the catcher blocking the plate. As mentioned above, he has to provide access to the plate. You clearly see in several pictures that he is straddling the plate and that he provides access to the plate between his legs.

 

The question is, did he put his leg down before the ball was in his glove and as Panda said, his camera takes 8 pics per second and based on how close the ball was, its way to close for me to complain about the umpire's call. Plus in the picture with the ball about 5 feet away you are unable to see the catcher's back leg.

 

Its always easier being a Monday (Wednesday) morning quarterback than it is to get out there and play, coach, or even umpire the night before. I wasn't there but looking at the pictures that is a way tougher call then everyone is saying and the clear obstruction that is mentioned above is only clear in the eyes above when we have the picture about 2 milliseconds before the catcher has the ball in his glove.

 

I recently have seen a quote from a MLB catcher where the same rule applies, he states that he will continue to push the limit on this rule until he finds an umpire that is going to call it. Even MLB umpires have a tough time calling this. I will agree with rsj4470, the catcher is going to the benefit of the doubt in situations like this.

 

Looking at the pictures you also don't get a sense of the actual speed of the play either.

 

I was there along with many others and if you watched the play unfold you wouldn't be questioning it I believe.

 

You say it is a much tougher call than everyone is saying, why do you say that? Isn't it odd that it is only tough for someone who wasn't there to make the call when most people who were there, even according to you, thinks it's an easy call. That alone tells me that it wasn't a tough call.

 

Not sure what pictures you are looking at but the pics I looked at you can clearly see the runner sliding into Blake while Blake is still looking out to the field waiting for the ball

 

Can't get clearer than that.

When does this become a minimal gap?

 

Just saying.

 

Minimal gap, major gap. Doesn't matter. He's in the base path without the ball.

 

I understand where you're coming from though. But he just can't be where he is, legs spread wide or otherwise.

Looking at the pictures you also don't get a sense of the actual speed of the play either.

 

I was there along with many others and if you watched the play unfold you wouldn't be questioning it I believe.

 

You say it is a much tougher call than everyone is saying, why do you say that? Isn't it odd that it is only tough for someone who wasn't there to make the call when most people who were there, even according to you, thinks it's an easy call. That alone tells me that it wasn't a tough call.

 

Not sure what pictures you are looking at but the pics I looked at you can clearly see the runner sliding into Blake while Blake is still looking out to the field waiting for the ball

 

Can't get clearer than that.

 

Looking at the whole sequence that Panda posted a link to. I agree you don't get actual speed so I can only go by what I'm seeing. If his camera takes pictures that fast as 8 frames a second then that play unfolded even faster. And I'm guessing you are correct again in saying that it wasn't a tough call, because the umpire called what he saw. But yet everyone else is saying he is wrong.

 

Anyway, I'll move on.

Again, where in the rulebook are you getting this? He is very, very clearly blocking the runner's access to the plate. Not a question in the world. AND he is doing so without the ball. Add the two together and it's obstruction. There is not some caveat in the rulebook that allows for what you are saying. If the throw causes him to be in that spot to receive it, he has to vacate it somehow to allow the runner access. And if that lessens his chance of catching the ball, that is simply too bad. Just the way the rule reads.

 

I apologize for not using the correct term. The term used in the rulebook is the "catcher must either be in possession of the ball, or in process of catching the ball" in order to be "blocking the plate" (or any other base).

 

I wasn't at the game and am not commenting on whether or not obstruction occurred or not. Just saying what might have been going on in the umpires mind.

Looking at the whole sequence that Panda posted a link to. I agree you don't get actual speed so I can only go by what I'm seeing. If his camera takes pictures that fast as 8 frames a second then that play unfolded even faster. And I'm guessing you are correct again in saying that it wasn't a tough call, because the umpire called what he saw. But yet everyone else is saying he is wrong.

 

Anyway, I'll move on.

The ump was wrong.

 

Conner won and that is all that matters. I was rooting for Conner so was very happy. That had nothing to do with my stance on the call.

Just wondering, how does someone become an umpire if I wanted to? It's plays like this, games like this, that for some reason gives me a reason to want to learn. I'm not sure I could handle the screaming from the stands but being on the field gives a whole other feeling I'm sure.

 

Now I doubt I would ever make it to this level at my age, but at any level there are games like this, that have big calls like this that are made.

 

Something about post season that makes us all want to be kids again, or maybe it's just me.

Just wondering, how does someone become an umpire if I wanted to? It's plays like this, games like this, that for some reason gives me a reason to want to learn. I'm not sure I could handle the screaming from the stands but being on the field gives a whole other feeling I'm sure.

 

Now I doubt I would ever make it to this level at my age, but at any level there are games like this, that have big calls like this that are made.

 

Something about post season that makes us all want to be kids again, or maybe it's just me.

 

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